![Sri Lanka vs England 1st ODI to be played on January 22 [Image Credits: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768974154909_SriLankavsEngland1stODItobeplayedonJanuary22.jpg?type=hq)
Sri Lanka vs England 1st ODI to be played on January 22 [Image Credits: X]
Sri Lanka and England are set to lock horns for the first ODI match of the three-match affair, which is set to take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The SL vs ENG clash is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 22, from 2:30 PM IST onwards.
Coming off a dismal Ashes 2025-26 series, the white-ball team of England will be eager to bounce back with strength, led by captain Harry Brook. Strong names like Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Adil Rashid are set to decorate the playing XI.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is ready to take on England after hosting Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in early January, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sri Lanka vs England current form (last 5 matches)
| Team | Form |
| Sri Lanka | L, L, L, W, W |
| England | L, L, L, W, L |
SL vs ENG: Key player battles
Jos Buttler vs Wanindu Hasaranga
This is arguably the standout matchup of the series. Jos Buttler, England's explosive batter and one of the most feared white-ball hitters, loves to dominate spinners early. Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka's star leg-spinning allrounder, brings sharp googlies, quick variations, and deceptive flight that have troubled top batters worldwide.
Joe Root vs Maheesh Theekshana
Joe Root is a master at playing spin, with exceptional judgment, late play, and the ability to milk or manoeuvre deliveries on turning tracks. Maheesh Theekshana, with his unorthodox off-spin, carrom balls, and skiddy trajectory, can be extremely hard to read, especially in the powerplay or middle overs.
Harry Brook vs Dushmantha Chameera
England captain Harry Brook, known for his aggressive play to dominate pace bowling, will face Sri Lanka's premier fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera. Brook has been in sensational form across formats, playing aggressive yet calculated cricket. Chameera brings raw speed, late swing, and sharp bouncers that can hurry batters on any surface.
Sri Lanka vs England top performers
Most runs for SL vs ENG
Kusal Perera (338), Kusal Mendis (287)
Most wickets for SL vs ENG
Dhananjaya de Silva (5), Maheesh Theekshana (1)
Most runs for ENG vs SL
Joe Root (1178), Jos Buttler (582)
Most wickets for ENG vs SL
Adil Rashid (15), Sam Curran (5)
Sri Lanka vs England toss prediction
The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo offers a fairly balanced surface for players. The pitch generally provides consistent bounce, allowing batters to play their shots with confidence early on. However, conditions tend to become more challenging as the surface deteriorates over time.
Pacers usually find minimal seam and swing and often struggle unless they rely on variations. Known as a spinner’s paradise, especially in subcontinental conditions, spinners play a major role during the middle and late overs. Given this pitch behaviour, the toss-winning captain is likely to prefer batting first to make the most of the conditions.
Sri Lanka vs England 1st innings score prediction
Powerplay: 50/1
Final score: 287
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd innings score prediction
Powerplay: 40/2
Final score: 260
SL vs ENG top players prediction
SL's top players
Probable best batters
Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pathum Nissanka
Probable best bowlers
Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana
ENG’s top players
Probable best batters
Harry Brook, Jos Buttler
Probable best bowlers
Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse
Who will hit the most sixes in the SL vs ENG match?
Jacob Bethell
Who will hit the most fours in the SL vs ENG match?
Pathum Nissanka
Sri Lanka vs England Match Winner Prediction: Who Will Win The 1st ODI?
Given their recent form, both England and Sri Lanka have struggled in their ODI setups. However, when looking at the head-to-head record, England hold a slight edge with 38 wins compared to Sri Lanka’s 37 victories from the 79 ODIs played between the two sides.
With this narrow advantage and their recent head-to-head form, England appear to have a marginally better chance of winning this match against Sri Lanka, despite playing as visitors at the R Premadasa Stadium.
